Georgia and Florida is this victory due, and to their states will its results more especially enure. II. The brigadier general commanding acknowledges the distinguished services of Brig. Gen. A. H. Colquitt commanding in the front, to whom much of the success of the battle is due, and of Col. George P. Harrison, commanding 2d brigade, both of whom conducted themselves with the highest degree of courage and ability. III. The brigadier general commanding also returns his thanks to Brig. Gen. Gardner, commanding Dist. Mid. Fla. and the officers of his staff, for their presence and assistance during the engagement. IV. The conduct of both officers and men will be noticed in detail in the report of the brigadier general commanding to department head quarters. By order of BRIG. GEN. FINEGAN, The Chatham Artillery moved on with the army of East Florida in its advance towards Jacksonville, and formed a component part of it until the 19th of April. It having been ascertained that reenforcements were arriving in Jacksonville, and that the approaches to that village were guarded both by Federal gun-boats and land batteries, it was resolved to keep the enemy closely invested and await future developments. Accordingly the general encampment of the Confederate forces was located along the line of McGirts creek, some nine miles below Baldwin in the direction of Jacksonville, and immediately upon the rail road. This encampment was subsequently protected by the construction of substantial defensive works, and received the name of Camp Milton. On the morning of the 1st of March, a detachment from the armyof which the Chatham Artillery formed a component part- under the command of Col. Zachry, was sent forward to drive in the advanced guards of the enemy and establish our picket line several miles in advance of the position then occupied, thus putting a greater space between the two armies, and materially conducing to the security of our own. Before this advance the enemy's pickets and advanced guards retreated. In this they were very materially influenced by several well directed shots from Wheaton's Battery. Our forces pressed on, passing Camp Finegan and encountering no serious opposition until they reached a small creek beyond. In crossing this, the enemy, considerably reenforced, inflicted a loss upon us of ten killed and twenty or thirty wounded. Here the Chatham Artillery shelled the enemy heavily, and the crossing was effected under the cover of this fire, the enemy again continuing their retreat. Our lines having been sufficiently advanced, the detachment returned to Camp Milton. With the cavalry well in advance, the army rested quietly at Camp Milton, and the Federals confined within the limits of Jacksonville and its vicinity busied themselves rather with matters looking to their personal safety, than with preparations for a renewal of their boasted march through Florida. An expedition was sent up the St. John's, but it eventuated only in an early recall, and the loss of two of the steam transports engaged, which were blown up by our torpedoes. The Federals lingered about Jacksonville for some time, but the memories of the bloody defeat at Ocean Pond were too recent to permit the hazard of a second engagement, and they eventually entirely abandoned the hope of rendering Florida loyal, and returned their forces to the Carolina coast. Without entering upon a detailed account of the duties performed by the Chatham Artillery while stationed at Camp Milton, we may state in general terms that the Battery was parked with the rest of the artillery of the army-numbering some twenty pieces-under the command of Lieut. Colonel C. C. Jones, Jr., chief of artillery, and that it cheerfully and efficiently responded to every obligation devolved upon it, whether upon picket duty in front with the cavalry, in the construction of temporary fortifications for the protection of Camp Milton, or in the performance of the general duties of the camp and the drill. CHAPTER VIII. Return to James Island. Affair of the 2d of July, etc. On the 19th of April, 1864, the Chatham Artillery left Camp Milton, and marching across the country via Trader's hill, took the cars of the Atlantic and Gulf rail road at Station Number 9, and thence proceeding via Savannah, reached James island on the 30th. Here the company was associated with Capt. Blake's Battery in a temporary battalion under the command of Capt. Wheaton, the senior officer. The services performed by the company during the summer were arduous and unceasing. Half the Battery was upon guard or picket duty every night. A great deal of courier duty was demanded of the company on account of the want of cavalry and the paucity of troops generally on the island. Skirmishes with the enemy were not infrequent. Alluding to the condition and engagements of his Battery, Captain Wheaton writes under date of May 31st, 1864: Our duties here are severe. We furnish an average of twenty-four men daily as guards at head quarters, at the signal station, at Dill's bluff bridge, at the ordnance and commissary depots, and as mounted couriers at the different posts on the island. Besides, we send a section to Fort Johnson every night on picket duty. These details, in connection with our camp guard, embrace the whole company. Men who come off guard in the morning, go on picket in the evening; and with all this I have never known the men more cheerful, or apparently better satisfied. They appreciate the fact that the duty is necessary, and perform it willingly. We are located about one hundred yards below the camp we occupied last season, on the ground immediately south of the road leading from our old camp to Artillery cross roads; and notwithstanding our hard duty, are more comfortable in every particular than at any time since. we left White bluff. The men are in snug cabins; we have a good stable for our horses, harness racks, and a guard house and forage house, all complete. We have about one hundred and thirty men in camp. The general health is good. It is unusual to have more than seven on the sick list at one time, and often we do not have more than two or three. In all respects I consider the company in fully as good condition as at any time during the war. Our horses except the few we use on courier duty have improved, and are now in fine working order. Capt. Blake's company is camped with us, and we do the duty in common, furnishing thirty-eight men daily for guard duty outside of our camp, and sending a section to Fort Johnson, and another section to a point known as River's causeway on picket every night. There is not to my knowledge, at present, an infantry soldier on the island. Frederick's Regiment of Heavy Artillery, and Manigault's three siege artillery companies are doing duty as infantry. We have also about three hundred and fifty dismounted cavalry, portions of two regiments recently returned from Virginia to be remounted. A part of the 1st Regiment Regular Artillery is on duty at Fort Johnson, and the Lucas Battalion is stationed on the Stono. You will easily see from your knowledge of our long lines, that we have plenty of employment for every man. The enemy has made two demonstrations on the lower and western part of the island recently, driving in our pickets, but gaining no permanent advantage. They retired as soon as our forces were concentrated. In an emergency we muster quite a respectable little army. We recently had twelve companies of firemen from Charleston, all armed, two companies of cadets from the Citadel academy, and various volunteer organizations. We can make a good fight, with chances |